Wickham Estate: Hampshire Vineyard & Exclusive Wedding Venue
Introduction
Tucked into the rolling Hampshire countryside between the hills of the Meon Valley and the historic village of Wickham, Wickham Estate is a 40-acre working vineyard that has been quietly producing English wines for more than five decades. Today it is also one of Hampshire's most exclusive wedding and private event venues, an independent business owned and run by Samantha, with a close-knit team of wedding coordinators, a vineyard crew, an in-house florist-stylist range, and a long-standing catering partnership with Exquisite Catering.
What makes Wickham Estate unusual is the way the vineyards, the cellar, the ceremony lawn, the rustic reception barn and the on-site guest house all sit on the same plot of land. Couples marry among the vines, drink sparkling wine made from grapes growing metres from their chairs, then dance the night away in The Old Winery, a 19th-century building still dressed with original beams, chandeliers of vintage crystal-cut wine glasses and 10ft oak doors. Outside of wedding season, the estate opens its gates to the public for seasonal events and wine tastings.
Our Story: From Apple Farm to Award-Winning Vineyard
Long before Wickham Estate became a vineyard, the grounds were an apple farm owned by a local family. The Chandleys, the founders of the modern vineyard, decided that they wanted to convert the orchards into a vineyard and put in the research themselves. In 1970 they planted the first seven acres of vines; four years later, in 1974, a second seven acres were planted, marking the beginning of life as vineyard owners.
The original layout of the vineyard looks a little different from a typical English vineyard because the rows are spaced further apart. The Chandleys deliberately kept their old apple-farming machinery to harvest the vines, and the larger equipment required wider rows than you would see elsewhere. The result is a vineyard that feels both functional and distinctive.
Three Choirs Era
In 2014 the estate was acquired by Three Choirs Vineyards, one of the oldest and largest vineyards in Gloucestershire. Three Choirs slowly developed the grounds into an exclusive wedding and private-functions venue, building up the team, the accommodation and the surrounding infrastructure. Samantha, who had been General Manager since the start of the Three Choirs era, oversaw up to 70 weddings a year during this period.
A New Chapter Under Samantha
In January 2022, after managing the site for seven years, Samantha took over the vineyard and became the proud owner of Wickham Estate. Continuing the foundations and high standards that she helped form while it was part of Three Choirs, she now leads a small team of wedding coordinators, a vineyard crew, an in-house bar manager and a marketing manager, with maintenance help from Kevin and his dog Kye.
The Vineyard and the Grapes
Today Wickham Estate spans 40 acres in total and produces red, white, rosé and sparkling wines from 15 different grape varieties, predominantly of German descent. The vines are trained on a Geneva Double Curtain trellis system, which opens the canopy up to the sunshine, lifts the fruiting zone well above ground level and helps the vineyard avoid frost damage on cold Hampshire nights.
The Vine Cycle
Weather depending, the annual cycle at the vineyard follows a familiar rhythm:
- Bud burst: April
- Flowering: June
- Harvest: Late September to early October
A specialist vine team tends the vines year-round, watching the canopy, the bunches and the weather closely before deciding when to pick. It is that patience in the picking window that ends up in every glass poured at a Wickham wedding.
The Wines of Wickham Estate
Five wines make up the current Wickham Estate range. All are still made in small batches from estate-grown fruit and appear on the wedding drinks packages, the tasting flights and the on-site bar.
Classic Cuvée
A traditional-method sparkling wine made from Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir. Rich, rounded and gently toasty, the Classic Cuvée is the wine poured at drinks receptions, speeches and on every table during the wedding breakfast, and it is the wine used in the wedding drinks packages.
Medium Dry White Wine
A blend of 75% Schonburger and 25% Siegerrebe. Aromatic and gently floral, it shows soft, delicate fruit on the palate and works well as an aperitif or alongside lighter wedding breakfast dishes.
Medium Sweet White Wine
A blend of Madeleine Angevine, Huxelrebe and Reichensteiner. Grapefruit and citrus notes meet honeyed richness on the palate, giving a medium-sweet style that has long been a customer favourite.
Wickham Estate Rosé
An off-dry rosé built on Seyval Blanc and Triomphe. Light aromas of strawberries and summer fruits give it an easy-drinking character that suits outdoor summer weddings and long afternoons in the courtyard.
Wickham Estate Red Wine
A dry, lighter-style red made from Regent, Rondo and Pinot Noir. Black cherry and bramble fruit on the nose are lifted by a subtle hint of lightly toasted oak from American oak barrel ageing, giving enough structure for red-meat courses without overwhelming the meal.
Weddings at Wickham Estate
Wickham Estate is licensed for civil ceremonies and partnerships for up to 90 day guests, with the wedding breakfast, and can host up to 150 guests in total for an evening reception. Ceremonies start from 1pm, allowing the morning for bridal preparations and the venue to be dressed by suppliers. In the rare event of poor weather, outdoor ceremonies are moved at no extra charge into the indoor Vine Room.
The Ceremony Spaces
The Gazebo
The outdoor Gazebo sits among the vines and is available until the end of October. Couples marry looking out over the vineyard; in full bloom between May and September the vines turn a rich, beautiful red by October, giving the ceremony backdrop a striking seasonal colour shift.
The Vine Room
For couples who prefer to be indoors, the Vine Room is a light-filled ceremony space with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the vines outside. A neutral colour palette lets any styling theme take the lead, and the room doubles comfortably as an intimate dining space for smaller weddings.
The Byre
The Byre sits within the outside courtyard and is used as an alternative ceremony backdrop for the Intimate Wedding Package, with a draped backdrop included as part of the styling.
The Old Winery Reception Room
The Old Winery is the estate's signature reception space. Originally used for housing barrels and wine-making equipment, it has been transformed into an elegant function room while keeping its original character: exposed wooden beams overhead, chandeliers made from vintage crystal-cut wine glasses, and the grand 10ft oak doors that welcome guests in. The room has its own inside bar, dance floor, kitchen and toilets, and is the location for the wedding breakfast, the evening reception and most of Wickham's ticketed events.
On-Site Accommodation
Since 2019 Wickham Estate has offered its own on-site guest house, available in two ways: Bridal Suite only, or the whole House including four double guest bedrooms. The Bridal Prep Room is a spacious, light-filled space with two hair-and-makeup stations, plenty of hooks for dresses and a secluded patio. The Honeymoon Suite has a king-size bed and a large en suite, and the relaxation space in the House has tea-and-coffee-making facilities, a large table and a fridge for guests.
Wedding Packages and Pricing
Five wedding packages are available. All prices are based on 50 day guests for 2025 - 2026 weddings, with separate pricing tiers for May - October and November - April, and Monday - Thursday vs Friday - Sunday. Additional day guests are charged per person on top of each package.
Signature Package
- Exclusive venue hire
- Ceremony in the Gazebo or Vine Room
- Signature two-course menu
- Glass of Wickham Estate sparkling wine for the drinks reception
- ½ bottle per person of Wickham Estate wine for the tables
- Glass of Wickham Estate sparkling wine for speeches
- Smoked bacon rolls and mature cheese toasties for evening food
- Online wedding portal
Prices: May - October Mon - Thu £9,948; Fri - Sun £12,854. November - April Mon - Thu £9,073; Fri - Sun £11,173. Additional day guests £104.95.
The Old Winery Package
- Exclusive venue hire
- Ceremony in the Gazebo or Vine Room
- Three-course menu including four canapés per person
- Glass of sparkling wine for the drinks reception
- ½ bottle of Wickham Estate wine per person for the tables
- Glass of sparkling wine for speeches
- Choice of hand-picked evening food menu
- Bridal Prep Room and Grooms Room use on the morning
- Honeymoon Suite for the wedding night
- Online wedding portal
Prices: May - October Mon - Thu £12,198; Fri - Sun £15,104. November - April Mon - Thu £11,323; Fri - Sun £13,423. Additional day guests £131.95.
The Grand Oak Package
- Exclusive venue hire
- Ceremony in the Gazebo or Vine Room
- Drinks reception with two glasses of sparkling wine per person, a wheelbarrow of beer, one large alcoholic kilner and one large soft drink kilner
- The Estate three-course menu including four canapés per person
- ½ bottle of Wickham Estate wine per person for the tables
- A toast drink per person for speeches
- Evening food of your choice
- Full Seasonal Blooms styling package
- Bridal Prep Room, Grooms Room and Bridal Brunch Platter for four
- Full use of the Guest House including Honeymoon Suite and four guest bedrooms
Prices: May - October Mon - Thu £17,193; Fri - Sun £21,043. November - April Mon - Thu £16,543; Fri - Sun £19,393. Additional day guests £148.45.
Intimate Wedding Package
Designed for 20 to 40 guests, this package uses the Vine Room and includes the ceremony (Byre or Gazebo), four canapés per person, a three-course wedding breakfast from The Old Winery menu, a glass of sparkling wine for the drinks reception, ½ bottle per person of Wickham Estate wine for the tables, a glass of sparkling wine for speeches and a draped backdrop for the Byre ceremony. Carriages are at 7pm unless an evening reception is added.
Prices: 20 guests £5,679; 30 guests £6,918.50; 40 guests £8,158. Available any day of the week and bookable up to 12 months in advance.
The Estate Package
A luxurious three-day wedding experience that includes a wedding-eve retreat with welcome drinks, a charcuterie grazing platter, dinner at sister restaurant The Mill in Botley and overnight stay for up to 10 guests; the full wedding day with the four-course Estate menu, premium DJ, light-up LOVE letters, donut wall for 96 guests, traditional ice-cream cart, evening food and a full flower and stationery collection; and a relaxed recovery day with a cooked English or continental breakfast and 12pm checkout. Prices start from £40,707 (May - October) and £37,376 (November - April), based on 60 day guests. Additional day guests £150.45.
Current 2026 Offer
Two promotions are running for new bookings. £2,000 off any wedding package (excluding the Intimate Package) for weddings taking place November 2026 to April 2027. Selected Saturday wedding dates in 2026 are also available with limited-time savings, priced at £13,075 based on 60 adult guests and including 24-hour exclusive hire, the Old Winery three-course menu, drinks package, bridal and groom prep rooms, honeymoon suite and two wedding coordinators. Available 2026 Saturdays include 9 May, 20 and 27 June, 11 and 25 July, and 8 August.
Functions and Private Hire
The Old Winery and the courtyard are available to hire for private functions, from birthday parties (21+), anniversary parties, christenings, retirement parties and Christmas parties, through to dinner dances, wakes and celebration-of-life events, corporate meetings and charity and fundraising events.
The Old Winery holds up to 85 guests for seated dining and up to 150 guests for a more casual event, with a minimum of 50 guests required to book. Hire includes exclusive use of the function room and courtyard, an inside bar, four tables, chairs and staff for up to five hours; additional time can be arranged on request. The venue is licensed to keep the bar open and music playing until 11pm.
Catering for functions is provided by Exquisite Catering and includes cold finger buffets from £23.50 per person, hot finger-food buffets from £24.50, BBQ menus from £26.50, deconstructed hog roasts and pizzas, bowl food, cheese boards, a conference package at £49.95 per person and a formal set lunch or dinner menu at £64.95 per person.
Wine Tastings and Experiences
Wickham Estate runs two formats of public wine experience. Both are designed to be approachable, food-led and hosted personally by the vineyard owner.
Wine Tasting & Dinner Experience
This is the headline public tasting evening. Guests arrive at 7pm and are welcomed into The Old Winery, where Samantha talks through the history of Wickham Estate and the winemaking process before leading a flight of five wines, including the award-winning Classic Cuvée sparkling wine, paired with canapés. The tasting is followed by a two-course dinner (main and dessert) served in the Old Winery, with the wines available to purchase by the bottle on the night. Tables seat between six and ten guests, and private tables of six to ten can be secured when block-booking. Tickets are £72.50 per person; the evening finishes at approximately 10pm with carriages by 10.30pm. A minimum of 20 guests is required for the evening to go ahead, and tickets are non-refundable, although exchanges can be offered as a monetary voucher for the wine shop or another tasting date.
Private Wine Tastings
For groups, friends, corporate teams or clients, the estate runs private tastings tailored to the occasion. A guided flight of estate wines is paired with canapés and followed by a two-course meal in The Old Winery. From casual afternoons with light bites to formal tasting dinners, every element can be customised. Pricing starts from £88.95 per person; enquire via the wine-tasting enquiry form.
Food and Catering
Wickham Estate works exclusively with Exquisite Catering, a small, dedicated in-house team known for seasonal, locally sourced cooking. Breakfast bites start the day during bridal preparations; pizzas, nachos, hot dogs, burgers and bacon rolls keep evening guests fuelled on the dance floor; and a deconstructed hog roast or cheese stack (£15 per person, minimum 50) make great relaxed-wedding options.
Formal dining at Wickham runs from a Signature two-course menu up to a four-course Estate menu. Dietary requirements and allergies are catered for, although preference-style diets cannot be accommodated at ticketed events. All food at the estate is prepared to order, so dietary needs must be confirmed at least one month before the event date.
Stationery and Styling
Wickham Estate offers its own in-house stationery and styling collection, designed in collaboration with expert florist Zoe Bailey, so that couples can keep all their printed and floral décor under one roof. Four styling packages are available:
- Elegant Ivory Collection - £300
- Boho Collection - £700
- Classic Collection - £750
- Seasonal Blooms Collection - £1,100
Wedding invitations start from £1 each for save-the-dates and £2 each for full invitations, with menu place cards from £1.50, table numbers in gold frames from £4, table plans from £65 and welcome signs from £35. A personalised welcome A-board is available for £50.
Upcoming Events at the Vineyard
Wickham Estate runs a rolling calendar of public ticketed events throughout the year. Tickets are sold through the online shop; the team is also contactable on info@wickhamestate.co.uk or 01329 834 700. The next upcoming events are listed below.
Gatsby Gala Dinner - Saturday 8 August 2026
Step back into the glamour and decadence of the Roaring 20s for an evening of 1920s-themed canapés, a themed two-course dinner, a glass of the estate's Classic Cuvée sparkling wine, signature cocktails, a 360-degree photobooth and after-dinner dancing. Live vocals come from Paul McDowell. Tickets £85 per person, 7pm - 11pm (dinner served 7:30pm). Dress code: flapper dresses, pearls, feathers, sharp suits and bow ties. Currently sold out.
Ibiza Classics At The Vineyard - Sunday 23 August 2026
The vineyard opens to the general public for an afternoon of Ibiza Classics played live by DJ Dean John with live sax from Claire Manners, set in the courtyard overlooking the vines. BBQ and bar open throughout; limited outdoor seating is available, so feel free to bring a picnic blanket or deckchair. Tickets £12.50 per person, 4pm - 7pm. Currently sold out.
Wine Tasting & Dinner Experience - Friday 4 September 2026
The flagship public tasting evening in The Old Winery, hosted by vineyard owner Samantha. Includes a flight of five Wickham Estate wines (including the award-winning Classic Cuvée), paired canapés and a two-course meal. Tickets £72.50 per person, 7pm - 10pm, carriages by 10.30pm.
Wine Tasting & Dinner Experience - Friday 16 October 2026
The same format returns in October, again hosted by Samantha, with the same flight of wines, paired canapés and two-course dinner in The Old Winery. Tickets £72.50 per person, 7pm - 10pm, carriages by 10.30pm.
The estate also runs seasonal Mother's Day flowers-and-afternoon-tea events in March, Christmas wreath-making workshops with Zoe Bailey in December, and an annual wedding showcase each winter and spring. Tickets are released through the What's On calendar and the shop.
Visit Wickham Estate
Wickham Estate is at Botley Road, Shedfield, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 2HL. The office is open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, with appointments available Monday - Saturday by prior arrangement. The estate is signposted from Botley train station, and there is ample free parking on site. Recommended nearby hotels include the Macdonald Botley Park, The Crown Inn at Bishop's Waltham, Meon Valley, Solent Hotel and The Hilton at the Ageas Bowl.
Private tours of the venue can be booked through the online booking calendar or by contacting the team directly. General enquiries go to info@wickhamestate.co.uk or 01329 834 700. For catering enquiries, contact Exquisite Catering. The vineyard is active on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest, sharing seasonal menus and event announcements.